Recipient of kidney enjoys being able to run

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Recipient of kidney enjoys being able to run
Beeville freshman will compete on the Driscoll Children's Hospital transplant team's Beach to Bay runners
By Elaine Marsilio
Saturday, May 16, 2009

CORPUS CHRISTI — Josh Munoz has a strategy for the 2009 Beach to Bay Relay Marathon: Enjoy.

The 16-year-old freshman at A.C. Jones High School in Beeville has taken that same approach to life since getting a kidney transplant in 2007.

Today he will be the only patient competing on the Driscoll Children’s Hospital kidney transplant team, which is running the relay for the first time.

Josh said his portion of the race, the final leg of 4.4 miles, shouldn’t be a problem. He enjoys running.

“It makes me feel free. It helps me blow off steam,” he said. “I don’t have to worry about anyone else.”

Josh’s nephrologist Dr. Samhar Al-Akash said he asked Josh a couple weeks ago to take his spot on the team after he injured himself while training.

Al-Akash, who oversees Driscoll’s kidney transplant program, said he invited Josh to fill in because the teenager frequently talks about his passion for running.

Carol Harvey, the Driscoll team organizer and Josh’s dietician, said Josh’s participation may encourage young people awaiting transplants.

“It’s not the end of life, and it’s not the end of having goals or dreams,” Harvey said. “It’s a new beginning.”

When Josh got his transplant in May 2007, he took a break from sports for about a year, his dad, Art Munoz Jr. said.

Before his transplant while Josh was on dialysis for five months, he sat around the house, playing video games all day, his dad said.

But his son’s attitude has changed now, he said. This school year Josh has excelled in sports and Navy Junior ROTC.

Josh, who was born with Alport syndrome, which affects his kidneys and hearing, is used to taking on challenges and new experiences, including watching his older brother, Art, go through a similar battle with dialysis and a transplant, their dad said. “He’s amazing,” he said. “He’s come a long way in a short time.”

Al-Akash said transplant recipients often become more active after a procedure, if it goes well.

“That’s the goal of transplanting them — getting them back to their normal life,” he said.

Josh said other teens should also reach for their dreams.

“Live your life,” Josh said.

http://www.caller.com/news/2009/may/16/recipient-of-kidney-enjoys-being-able-to-run/